Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1887-10-13

and he was English born. The cap
tain came forward to meet us as we
grouped around Herbert with hats off.
and after looking US over he shouted
out:
well. blame your eyes. why DONE
you speak up? What is wanted OF
me?''
IF you please. sir.' said Herbert,
1--WE can't eat the grub
| 'Oh! you can't You are probably
disappointed. You expected oyster
soup. Java coffee, hot biscuit and
honey, and your stomachs have gone
back on you"
''Your honor, but will you please
smell of this beef?'' asked Herbert.
advancing a step.
Smell of the beef. you hounds.
your howled the captain. Did the
owners engage me to sail the ship OF
to smell of the forecastle beef? ]
sized You up on the start for a lot of
skulking soiers. and here's proof that
was right. You are lot of curse
mutinous dogs, and now's the time to
give you a lesson.
With that. the three Off GERS began
the attack, never .minding who they
hit, and driving the watch on deck
with the others. The man at the
wheel was, / believe, the
only man who escaped blow.
while not a sailor raised
his hand in reply. The ship was run
ming off before light breeze, and for
fifteen minutes the three men had it
their own way. Then the captain s
watch was called, the other sent below,
and as we came on deck Captain Nc
Kay said:
| There. curse you for a lot of dock
loafers! hope you have found out who
sa lis this ship. The man who dares
come aft with another complaint will
get his brains knocked out"
| There were nine of as in the cap
| tain's watch, which, as told you. was
really the second mates watch, no
captain standing watch at sea unless
he SO wills. Every one OF us had been
| struck or kicked, and two of the men
had been savagely beaten on the head,
and were covered with blood. The
VI tuC llISb llltlc, WIN uOW Wcub
below with the captain, was Mclean.
The name of the second mate was An
drews. He was younger man than
the others, and perhaps had more
| heart, for after bit, while Herbert had
the wheel, he stopped near him and
observed:
THE old man is little rough, but
one of the best seamen out of Glasgow.
You complained too soon.'
'.But, Mr.. Andrews. what are we to
do for grub?" asked Herbert There
isn't man in the TO castle as can eat
such stuff.
well, it's not my lookout what the
owners furnish. Unless you men want
the dickens to pay, you will turn to
| and make the best of it
That closed the conversation. Not a
man of US spoke of mutiny or even the
| slightest resistance to lawful authority.
When our watch was up we turned in
and went to sleep. flor one cherished
the hope that the provisions would be
better in the morning. The officers
had only to taste them to realize that
they were totally unfit, and hoped the
Captain would de this and thus do
away with all causes for complaint.
As the kids were brought forward at
breakfast time, however. we scented
the stinken beef long before it reached
US, and we found the biscuit and tea
as vile as ever. Having eaten nothing
since the previous noon, and all of US
being hearty men, you can imagine
that were sharp set. Not a man of us,
however. could swallow that food, and
the kids and pannikins,,we left stand
ing at the windlass for the cook to
carry back with their contents un-
touched. The men looked at each
other with troubled faces, but there
was no threat of mutiny. We went to
our work on empty stomachs, as also
did the other watch, and, though the
officers knew it. not a word was said.
The men chewed an extra quantity of
tobacco, and hoped that noon would
soften the Captains heart
Noon brought no change, and when
supper was served and we found the
same grub placed before US, the men
broke out with curses. If she food had
been eatable, don't you suppose that
sailors, who had been from twenty
four to thirty hours without eating a
mouthful, would have at least nibbled
at it? am telling you what after
ward made affidavit to. I made re-
peated attempts to worry down some
of the meat, but each time it was re-
iected. Some of the men who got a
few swallows of the tea down were
made dreadfully sick. Again we went
supperless, but now the men began to
assert that no law of the high seas per-
mitted a captain to starve his crew.
We would wait until morning, and, if
the food was not changed, something
must be done. am sure the Captain
expected something to occur that
night for he was frequently on deck,
and the three officers were more than
once in consultation. The cook had
reported. as We afterward learned,
that none of the supper had been eaten.
and the Captain had replied:
'Well. the burned sojers will either
eat such grub as / set out, or live ON
their own fat"
/ am telling you truthfully that not
word of mutiny was whispered dur
ing the night We made no threats,
and had no plan, but yet we all felt
that the morning would bring a crisis
of some sort. During the night in
the case of both watches, the officers
were very q huSiya and The man voro